Combined lighting fixture and radio loud-speaker



E. J. SASSIN 2,501,968

COMBINED LIGHTING FIXTURE AND RADIO LOUD-SPEAKER Filed March 25, 1946 Patented Mar. 28, 1950 UNITED STATES i ATEN E QFFICE COMBINED LIGHTENG FIXTURE AND RADIO LOUD-SFEAKER Emil .l. Sassin, Detroit, Mich.

Application March 25, 1946, Serial No. 656,794

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to electrical accessories and fixtures and in particular, to lighting fixtures and radio loud speakers.

One object of this invention is to provide a combined lighting fixture and radio loud speaker wherein the same structure supports both of these articles.

Another object is to provide a combined lighting fixture and radio loud speaker which is especially adapted for installation in vehicles, boats, aircraft or the like.

Another object is to provide a combined lighting fixture and radio loud speaker wherein the central portion of the loud speaker carries the electric light bulb of a vehicle dome lamp and the same framework supports both the loud speaker cone and the light shade or reflector.

Another object is to provide a dynamic loud speaker, the motor magnet core of which sup ports the electric light bulb for a dome light and the cone support of which carries cross members which support a reflector or diffuser for preventing the direct rays of the electric light bulb from reaching the eyes of occupants of the vehicle or room.

Another object is to provide a combined dome light and radio loud speaker as set forth in the preceding objects wherein either or both may be separately or simultaneously actuated.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of a combined lighting fixture and radio loud speaker according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein a winding is used to create the magnetic field;

Figure 2 is a central vertical section through the device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of a combined lighting fixture and radio loud speaker according to a modification of the invention, wherein a permanent magnet is used to create the magnetic field;

Figure 4 is a central vertical section through the modified device shown in Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view of a vehicle, partly broken away to show the mounting of the device of the present invention in the top of a vehicle.

Referring to the drawings in detail, Figures 1 and 2 show a preferred embodiment of the combined lighting fixture and radio loud speaker of this invention as consisting generally of a loud speaker portion Ill and lighting fixture portion ll, both being mounted on and depending from bent brackets H2. The latter are provided with holes it for securing them to any suitable support, such as the outer top member i l of a vehicle it (Figure 5), the inner top member or ceiling to having an opening I! through which the device projects into the passenger compart ment is of the vehicle I5. Secured to the brackets 52 at their inner ends, as by the fastenifi dependent therefrom cup-shaped casing 2m, to the central or top portion 2! of which is secured a loud speaker motor core 22 of temporarily magnetizable material, such as soft iron. Mounted in the annular space between the core 22 and the cylindrical side wall 23 of the cllp-shaped casing 28, and separated therefrom by an insulating layer 2 3 is a loud speaker motor winding 25 to which are connected leads 26 and 27 for energizing the latter. The lead 26 passes through a hole 23 in the top portion 2!.

The core 22 near its lower end is provided with a central bore 29 threaded as at 35! to receive the threaded base of an electric light bulb 31, and above this is provided with a reduced diameter bore 29d. For purposes of simplicity, the bore 29 is shown as threaded directly to receive the bulb 3i but in actual practice, a suitable socket would preferably be inserted therein. In place of the threaded portion 39, a bayonet type socket is substituted if it is desired to employ bulbs 35 with the socalled Ediswan type of base. The bore 29 is provided with an annular insulating plug 32, the center of which supports the central contact 33 which engages the corresponding contact in the base of the electric light bulb 3!. A conductor or lead 341 extends upwardly from the contact 33 and outwardly through a hole 35 in the top portion at of the casing 20, and is connected to a suitable source of electricity, such as the storage battery of the vehicle. As the core 232 is electrically grounded to the casing 25 and brackets ill, the grounding of the latter to the metallic top member 53 completes the circuit for energizing the electric light bulb 3!.

Secured as at 35 to the lower end of the casing 263 is a roughly conical frame 3? having openings -33 therein alternating with radial arms 39, the latter terminating in an annular conical portion ill with a flange M extending therearound. Secured between the flange portion M and a retaining ring 32 as by the fasteners lEa. is the lower edge of a loud speaker cone or diaphragm 43, the upper edge of which terminates in an upwardly extending cylindrical portion 34. Wound upon the cylindrical portion M is a coil 45 of the loud speaker motor, the leads 36 and 41 of which are connected to terminals 48 and :19 respectively. The terminals 48 and 39 are mounted upon an insulating bracket 50 secured as at i to the frame 37. Conductors 52 and 53 are provided for connecting the terminals 38 and 25 to the audio-amplifier output circuit of the radio receiving apparatus (not shown).

The frame 3'! beyond the flange i! is provided with a flange extension 54 to which is secured, as by the fasteners 55 a cross-shaped member or spider 56, the arms 57 of which are arcuately bent and meet at a central portion 58. The spider 55 may be formed of plastic or other suitable transparent material in order to minimize the casting of shadows thereby. Secured to the central portion 58 as by the fastener 59 is a lamp shade or diffuser 66, serving as a light-modifying element. The latter may consist either of a translucent or transparent member or may be provided with a reflecting coating, according to the desire of the user. Its purpose is primarily to prevent the eyes of the occupants from being subjected to the direct rays from the filament of the electric light bulb 38. The lamp shade 653 may be formed of any suitable transparent material or of metal in the event that it is desired to provide a reflecting device.

The modification shown in Figures 3 and 4 is similar in nearly all material respects to the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 and 2, and similar parts are similarly designated. In place of the winding 25 and temporarily magnetizable core 22, however, a permanently magnetic core 5! is provided for creating the magnetic field necessary for the actuation of the moving coil 35 mounted on the loud speaker cone it. This core 6 l, for example, may be constructed of aluminum, nickel and cobalt alloys, such as the alloy commercially known as Alnico,

The device of the present invention may be installed in any convenient location and, in the case of a vehicle, may be installed by removing the existing dome light, and if necessary, enlarging the ceiling opening to provide an opening ll of sufficient size (Figure 5). Suitable fasteners are inserted through the holes E3, or if it is not desired to use fasteners, the brackets l2 may be inserted in suitable clips spot-welded or otherwise attached to the top Id. The exact manner of attachment forms no part of the present invention. The leads 25, El, 52 and 53 are con nected to the appropriate parts of the radio apparatus, and the lead 36 is connected to the dome light switch and the device is ready for operation.

In the operation of the device of the invention, either in the form shown in Figures 1 and 2 or in the modification shown in Figures 3 and l, the lighting fixture portion l i may be employed independently of the radio loud speaker portion ill, or vice versa, each being controlled by separate switches. Thus, the loud speaker portion it! may be employed in the daytime when the use of the lighting fixture portion i i is unnecessary and conversely, the lighting fixture I I may be illuminated at night, when it is not desired to use the radio loud speaker portion 10. Both portions it and H may, of course, be used simultaneously, such as at night. The particular location of the loud speaker in the ceiling of the car distributes the broadcast program more evenly than in present radio apparatus mounted on vehicles. In present automobile radio sets mounted on the dash of the vehicle, if the sound is to be heard properly by persons sitting on the back seat of the car, it must be adjusted to an unnecessarily loud volume for the persons sitting in the front seat and this tends to distract the driver and prevents his hearing Warning signals from other vehicles. The present device, however, enables the sound to be heard clearly by both driver and passengers without an excessive volume which will be distracting to the driver.

While I have shown and described my invention in detail, it is to be understood that the same is to be limited only by the appended claims, for many changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim is:

l. A combined lighting fixture and radio loud speaker comprising a casing having an opening in the front thereof, a radio loud speaker motor mounted in said casing, a loud speaker diaphragm connected to said motor and facing said opening, a frame connecting said casing with said diaphragm, an illuminating device carried by said motor, a light modifying element of smaller size than said opening disposed in said opening in the path of the light from said illuminating device with its rim spaced inwardly from the rim of said diaphragm, and a support interconnecting said light modifying element with said frame.

2. A combined lighting fixture and radio loud speaker comprising a casing having an opening in the front thereof, a radio loud speaker motor mounted in said casing, a loud speaker diaphragm connected to said motor and facing said opening,

a frame connecting said casing with said diaphragm, an illuminating device carried by said motor, a light modifying element of smaller size than said opening disposed in said opening in the path of the light from said illuminating device with its rim spaced inwardly from the rim of said diaphragm, and a spider extending inwardly from said frame to said light modifying element in supporting engagement therewith.

EMIL J. SASSIN.

CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,905,215 Cadieux Apr. 25, 1933 2,074,577 Dreyfus Mar. 23, 1937 2,079,752 Toth et al. May 11, 1937 

